What does romanize mean?
Romanize most commonly means to express writing in the Roman, or Latin, alphabet. The word is therefore close in meaning to transliterate, although it specifies the destination script or characters: a non-Latin text can be romanized by representing its sounds or letters with Latin characters. Romanize can also mean to express a number in Roman numerals. Less common historical senses include converting someone to Roman Catholicism and giving something a Roman style or character. The verb is usually transitive, taking the text, name, number, person, or cultural feature being converted. In modern writing it is most often encountered in discussions of scripts, names, and historical or religious change. British English commonly uses the spelling romanise, while American English usually retains romanize. Although the word may suggest empire or cultural assimilation because of Romanization’s historical associations, its literal core is simple: to render something in Roman form.
verbTo convert writing, a name, or a number into the Roman alphabet or Roman numerals. Less commonly, it means to convert someone to Roman Catholicism or to give something a Roman style or character.
- Convert writing, a script, or a name into the Roman or Latin alphabet.
- Express a number or date in Roman numerals.
- Convert someone to Roman Catholicism.
- Give something a Roman style or character.
"The linguists romanized the local placenames so that they could be printed using the Latin alphabet."
"The editors romanized the manuscript to make its text accessible in the Latin alphabet."
"The reform romanized the year on the title page."
Romanize has two famously different jobs: converting writing into Roman letters and converting someone to Roman Catholicism.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does romanize come from?
Romanize was formed in English from Roman, itself derived from Latin Romanus, meaning “of Rome” or “Roman,” together with the suffix -ize. The historical religious sense uses “Roman” in its older sense of Roman Catholic, whereas the script and numeral senses refer to the Roman alphabet and Roman numerals. The same Latin root underlies Romance, Romanesque, and the name Rome.
Related word forms
How romanize is actually used
The verb is normally transitive. British English commonly spells it romanise, while American English generally uses romanize.